Five Highlights From The Second Half of Our 2017-18 Season

On Nov. 19, we wrapped up our last production of the year with Verdi’s Nabucco. Though we’ll be taking a brief hiatus from the stage until the new year, there is still much to be excited about in the second half of our season! With both company premieres and established revivals underway, there is something for everyone — especially if you have folks to shop for.

Can’t wait until January to get your opera fix? We can’t either. Here are five reasons to look forward to the rest of our season!

Classical music companies around the world will pay homage to Leonard Bernstein for his centennial birthday. LA Opera will pay tribute to the American conductor/composer in January, as we resume our season with Bernstein’s Candide. Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole both make their LA Opera debuts, alongside Jack Swanson in the title role and soprano Erin Morley as Cunegonde.

A Brand New Orpheus

A scene from John Neumeier’s production of “Orpheus and Eurydice,” coming to LA Opera in March 2018. (Photo: Todd Rosenberg / Lyric Opera of Chicago)

Earlier this year, Lyric Opera of Chicago debuted our new co-production of Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice (Orphée et Eurydice), alongside the Joffrey Ballet. The production has received praised from both audiences and critics, and has been hailed as “an achingly beautiful dream of a show” by Chicago Tribune and “a monumental act of layering” by Chicago Sun Times. Maxim Mironov and Lisette Oropesa sing the title roles, with Domingo-Colburn-Stein young artist Liv Redpath in the role of Amour.

Renée Fleming and Audra McDonald

Opera superstar Renée Fleming and Tony Award winner Audra McDonald

Our season of fully-staged productions are rounded out by two recitals from some of the most accomplished stars in the field. On Feb. 6 we welcome back Renée Fleming to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion alongside pianist Hartmut Höll. Just a few months later, LA Opera also sees the return of Broadway superstar Audra McDonald in-concert with the LA Opera Orchestra on May 20.

Our remaining Off-Grand performances include two operas written by composer Gordon Getty, nicknamed the “Scare Pair” — Usher House and The Canterville Ghost. Both operas draw inspiration from two of the most prolific writers in history: Edgar Allen Poe’s Usher House and Oscar Wilde’s Canterville Ghost. We also present the West Coast premiere of LA Opera Artist-in-Residence Matthew Aucoin’s new opera Crossingon May 26 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Debuts and Doyens in Rigoletto

George Gagnidze as the title character in Rigoletto (2010); Photo: Robert Millard

We end our 2017-18 mainstage season with our upcoming production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, starring virtuosi Leo Nucci and Ambrogio Maestri in alternating performances of the title role. We also welcome tenor Michael Fabiano in his mainstage debut as the Duke of Mantua, and Irina Lungu in her LAO debut as Gilda. Rigoletto also stars LA Opera veterans Morris Robinson as Sparafucile and Arturo Chacón Cruz as the Duke.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the first half of our 2017-18! We look forward to seeing you all in January!

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